Lille hope to get the green light to add a new midfielder – as Albion target Carlos Baleba remains out of the firing line.

The midfielder was an unused substitute in the Conference League game against Rijeka last night.

That came after a very limited role in the previous league fixture.

Lille have been planning to add former Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb to their squad.

That deal, with SCO Angers, has been held up by issues arising from the medical.

But Lille president Olivier Letang said last night he would expect a resolution to the matter in the next day or two.

While contacts close to Lille say there is no indication – either way – as to whether Bentaleb’s arrival would ease Baleba’s path out of Lille, it would clearly give the club an extra midfielder and a clearer idea of where they stand in terms of squad strength.

Lille and Albion have been in conversation over a possible transfer involving Baleba.

He played just a couple of minutes in a 2-0 league win at home to Nantes at the weekend and did not get on at all last night as Lille grabbed a 2-1 advantage to take to Croatia.

Letang said after the game: “Nabil passed additional examinations today (Thursday).

“We are awaiting the position of this group of experts and our medical staff to find out if we will be able to finally welcome and sign his contract.

“We'll know pretty quickly now. I don't know if it will be tomorrow (Friday) or Saturday. We're counting on Nabil, we've got a lot closer over the past month, it's a special test.

“Now we have to wait a few hours, a few days.”

Lille boss Paulo Fonseca said ahead of the game he could not rule out Baleba leaving this month.

Even if Bentaleb is not given the go-ahead, there are reports Lille have back-up midfield options.

But these plans have remained on hold.

Baleba could get a recall this weekend with Benjamin Andre likely to drop from midfield to cover absences in central defence